Arsenal fans being 'brainwashed' as Wenger's side flounder
Supporters should demand more than merely seeing their team limp into the top four, argue critics
Last month, Arsene Wenger insisted Arsenal were still in with a chance of winning the league. That became a mathematical impossibility at the weekend and the Gunners boss has admitted that his side now faced "a fight" to stay in the top four.
Having blown another tilt at the title - and seen Tottenham Hotspur leapfrog them in the league for the first time in 20 years - failing to qualify for the Champions League is unthinkable for Wenger.
Yet his side have won only six out of 16 Premier League games since the turn of the year and although they are unbeaten in seven games, four have been drawn. The latest was a 0-0 stalemate with Sunderland on Sunday.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The game was notable for the appearance of Jack Wilshere from the subs bench, but the Gunners put in a performance that "did little to cement their claims for a 19th consecutive campaign in Europe's elite competition", says The Times.
The fact that Wenger admitted he was worried about his team's European aspirations proves things are bad, says Luke Edwards of the Daily Telegraph. "This was a game that strengthened two things. Sunderland’s survival chances and the argument of those who believe it is time for Wenger to be replaced."
He adds: "His players have not only buckled under title-winning pressure, they are now floundering under the more modest expectation of qualifying for the Champions League."
It is "groundhog day" for Arsenal, says Jamie Redknapp of Sky Sports, who accused the club of "brainwashing" its fans.
"It looks like they're going to limp into the top four again and that, for me, is boring," he says. "They deserve better than that. You can't keep doing that and be brainwashed into thinking fourth is good enough. They should be doing more. They should be looking to win the title... This was their big chance and unfortunately, they've blown it."
Olivier Giroud, in particular, is having a bad time, notes Kieran Gill at Mail Online. He has now gone 14 games without a goal, despite the presence of Mesut Ozil in the side, who has created more chances than any other player in the league.
Arsenal sit behind three teams with prolific strikers, he notes, Manchester City (Sergio Aguero), Spurs (Harry Kane) and Leicester (Jamie Vardy). Giroud, meanwhile has 12 goals scored at a rate of one every 180 minutes this season. He may get his last chance against Norwich next week.
"If ever Giroud is going to end this drought then, surely, it has to be against a relegation-threatened side. If not, it's time Wenger started looking for who he can sign to fix this problem," says Gill.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Today's political cartoons - November 3, 2024
Cartoons Sunday's cartoons - presidential pitching, wavering convictions, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Why Man United finally lost patience with ten Hag
Talking Point After another loss United sacked ten Hag in hopes of success in the Champion's League
By The Week UK Published
-
Who are the markets backing in the US election?
Talking Point Speculators are piling in on the Trump trade. A Harris victory would come as a surprise
By The Week UK Published
-
The Premier League's spending cap: levelling the playing field?
Talking Point Top clubs oppose plans to link spending to income of lowest-earning club, but rule could prevent success gap from widening
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Is a new English football regulator an own goal for the game?
Talking Point PM hails 'historic moment for football fans' but West Ham owner warns it could 'ruin' Premier League
By The Week UK Published
-
English football and the etiquette of leaving the stadium early
Talking Point The belief that 'true fans stay to the end' does not always apply
By The Week UK Published
-
2023-2024 Premier League predictions: champions, relegation and golden boot
feature A look at the top flight talking points and pundit picks for the new season
By Mike Starling Published
-
Man City: can ‘one of the best sides in history’ win the treble?
feature Guardiola’s Premier League champions have two more trophies in their sights
By The Week Staff Published
-
Premier League: Man City vs. Arsenal predictions
feature What the pundits say about tonight’s title race showdown at the Etihad
By Mike Starling Last updated
-
Antonio Conte leaves Tottenham after ‘extraordinary’ rant at players
feature After another year without a trophy, Spurs are now searching for a new manager
By The Week Staff Published
-
Liverpool 7 Man Utd 0: ‘welcome to Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool 2.0’
feature Anfield’s ‘new front three’ were on fire in the humbling of their bitter rivals
By Mike Starling Published